LONDON: Bernie Ecclestone says he's relieved to be back running Formula One but feels "a bit of an idiot" after settling his bribery trial in Germany.

The 83-year-old F1 supremo was back at his desk in London hours after walking out of the court in Munich, his case brought to a premature end after the British billionaire arranged to make a $US100 million ($A108 million) payment.